Springs Fire Ravages Family's Home

Blaze Displaces Mom, 2 Kids

Destroys Gifts

Coral Springs — A mother and her two children were left homeless for the holidays and their Christmas gifts were destroyed early Friday morning after a fire ravaged their three-bedroom duplex.

Officials said the blaze began around 12:30 a.m. in the main bedroom of Carole Ann McKenzie's pink and white home, in the 3900 block of Northwest 110th Ave. The fire then moved to the living room, where it destroyed furniture and electronics. By the time firefighters arrived, flames were billowing out of the front porch, as well as bedroom and bathroom windows. The blaze required about 25 firefighters -- the majority of the city's resources--to extinguish.

Not much in the home is salvageable, officials said.

"The sad part is that the Christmas tree and presents were all destroyed," said Mike Moser, a spokesman for the Coral Springs Fire Department. "The house has severe fire damage. There's not going to be anything they're going to be able to recover."

Police and fire department investigators agree that the lack of such possible causes as lightning strikes or short circuits suggests foul play or an accident as the fire's origin.

"[Investigators] don't know what the cause is at this point," said Sgt. Rich Nicorvo, a spokesman for the Coral Springs Police Department. "It could be something that was thrown in the house or it could be a cigarette. The only thing that they can look for is that it was purposefully set by a third person or that it was accidentally set by someone inside."

Neighbors Friday afternoon were still shaken by the midnight chaos.

"This is a nightmare," said Wendy Hernandez, who lives next door. "I can't even sleep. All I hear is `The house is on fire, the house is on fire.'"

Hernandez and her three children were roused from their sleep by a neighbor banging on her front door. The children, Hernandez said, ran out of the house, in pajamas and barefoot.

Hernandez said her mother, who has a pacemaker and heart problems, was so panicked that she passed out and suffered from smoke inhalation. She was taken to Coral Springs Medical Center.

Then Hernandez's brother tried rescuing the family pets, including three dogs, a cat, two birds, a rabbit, an iguana, two hamsters and six fish, but tripped, breaking three ribs.

"I don't feel safe until I know exactly what happened," Hernandez said. "I have three kids. The world is crazy. People are crazy. My mother is in the hospital. This is my worst Christmas."

Coral Springs Police have visited McKenzie's house on several occasions in response to domestic disturbance complaints, Nicorvo said.

A family member declined to talk to a reporter Friday afternoon.

The American Red Cross has provided McKenzie and her two children with a hotel room, clothes, shoes and grocery money to last until Monday.

"Then on Monday, we'll further assess their needs," said Chantal Nichtawitz, a spokeswoman with the Red Cross.

Jean-Paul Renaud can be reached at jprenaud@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4556.